Inflating your paddleboard with the hand pump it comes with!
In this video I have two different types of hand pumps. The first is a single cylinder hand pump, this is the kind that typically comes with your inflatable paddleboard, so this is the one I’ll be demonstrating with. The second type I have is a double cylinder hand pump which inflates your board much more quickly. Check this one out from Red Paddle Co.
Attaching the Hose to the Paddleboard Valve
You’ll start by attaching your hose to the valve on the paddleboard, this is likely located at the back of the board.
Make sure you have the correct attachment for your paddleboard. It is called a Halkey Roberts Adaptor, most inflatable paddleboards will come with the correct hose and/or adaptor. If you are having issues with the attachment fitting in the valve securely, check out this video.
The valve should have a valve cap that you will twist to remove. Don’t forget to put it back on before you hit the water! The valve itself has two positions, up and down. Kind of like a soap dispenser, if you push down and twist it will pop up, and if you push down and twist again, it will stay down. The easiest way to remember how you should have it is… UP to INFLATE. DOWN to DEFLATE.
Avoid losing all the air pressure you worked so hard for!
If the valve is in the wrong position when you inflate your paddleboard, you will lose a majority of the pressure within the first few seconds after removing the hose. It’s okay to cry if that happens. You should be able to remove the hose without losing any air.
Single Action vs Double Action on your pump
Most paddleboard hand pumps will have two settings, single action and double action. You might have a plug that comes in and out, or maybe a lever that twists back and forth. Before you start pumping, make sure your pump is set to double action. This will allow the more air to enter the board with each pump. When you get to about 5 or 6 PSI, you will notice it gets harder to pump. It’s not just because you are exhausted! It’s time to switch over to single action. This will make it much easier to pump because you are pumping less air.
How long does it take to inflate your paddleboard?
In the video, it took me about 10 minutes. I would say 10-15 minutes depending on the size of your board, the size of your hand pump, what pressure you inflate to, and your ability. It takes about the same amount of time to inflate your paddleboard with an electric sup pump, but there is no physical labor involved. I have a video about those too, check it out here!
What pressure do I need to inflate my paddleboard to?
Your paddleboard should say what the recommended pressure is. Typically, it’s listed right near the valve. Most paddleboards need to be inflated to at least 15 psi. I would be weary of a paddleboard that recommends anything less. If you have a Red Paddle Co paddleboard or something similar, it may be recommend to inflate up to 20-25 psi.
Don’t inflate more than the recommended amount, you don’t want to risk over inflating and causing damage to the seams.
Pro tip: If it’s really hot outside, inflate 1 or 2 psi below the recommendation. Hot air expands and this will allow for some wiggle room so your paddleboard doesn’t become over inflated.
